Water Removing Hair Brush

ABSTRACT

A hair brush has a body with a head, a plurality of bristles carried by and protruding relative to the head, and a water absorbent material carried by part of the body and dispersed among at least some of the plurality of bristles.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is related to and claims priority benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/979,971 filed Apr. 15, 2014 and entitled “Water Removing Hair Brush.” This application is also a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/106,375 filed Dec. 13, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/341,794, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,627,829, filed on December 30, 2011, each also entitled “Water Removing Hair Brush”, the latter of which claimed priority benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/429,077 filed on Dec. 31, 2010 and entitled “Water Removing Hairstyling Implements.” The entire content of these prior filed applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present invention is generally directed to hairstyling implements, and more particularly to water removing hairstyling implements, such as hair brushes.

2. Description of Related Art

It is often desirable to reduce the time that it takes to style a person's hair. Hair typically cannot even be styled until it is substantially dry because wet hair won't hold or retain a styled shape. Drying one's hair is a time consuming endeavor that as a result significantly increases the time it takes to style hair. Hair dryers, blow dryers and the like are well known in the art for use in drying a person's hair. These drying devices often utilize heated air that is directed at the wet hair in order to speed up the hair drying process. However, use of these types of devices can take a significant amount of time, particularly where the person's hair is extremely wet. These types of devices also can produce undesired styling effects on the hair or, worse yet, can damage the hair being dried.

In many instances, a person will use a towel to absorb water from wet hair. Towels are sometimes configured as head wraps to increase the amount of surface contact with the hair. Nevertheless, towels typically fail to sufficiently dry hair for styling. Some individuals or stylists will try to increase the drying effect of a towel or head wrap by rubbing the hair with the towel or moving the towel and hair relative to one another. This can also result in undesired styling effects on the hair, or worse yet, can also damage the hair.

Others have tried to create products that are capable of removing more water than a conventional towel. Combs that are otherwise traditional have been made with teeth that can move and act as a squeegee on wet hair. Others have developed combs that utilize chemical additives to dissipate moisture or to break up the water molecules. Such combs have not been found to markedly improve water removal, to adequately dissipate moisture in wet hair, or to significantly reduce drying and/or styling time.

Hair brushes and other styling implements have also been created that are intended to add material to one's hair for styling. Such hair brushes and other implements have been developed to apply or distribute oil, hair coloring agents, conditioners to the hair and scalp, and the like. Others have tried to develop hair brushes that can absorb water from a user's hair. Such brushes have not heretofore achieved this intended goal successfully or satisfactorily.

Other styling implements and hair styling products have been developed that have absorbent capability for absorbing and then distributing styling agents or coloring agents to a user's hair. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,075, U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,426, U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,695, U.S. Application Serial No. 2008/014504, EP 1272068, and EP 0497080.

SUMMARY

In one example according to the teachings of the present disclosure, a hair brush has a body with a head, a plurality of bristles carried by and protruding relative to the head, and a water absorbent material carried by part of the body and dispersed among at least some of the plurality of bristles.

In one example, the water absorbent material can be dispersed among some but not all of the plurality of bristles, which can leave some of the bristles exposed.

In one example, the plurality of bristles can include two or more columns of exposed bristles along at least one side edge of the head exposed beyond the water absorbent material. The exposed bristles are exposed by having no water absorbent material dispersed among the two or more columns of exposed bristles.

In one example, the plurality of bristles can include two or more columns of bristles along at least one side edge of the head. The two or more columns can include one column of the two or more columns staggered or offset relative to at least one other column of the two or more columns.

In one example, the plurality of bristles can include three columns of exposed bristles, which can be provided along each of two opposed side edges of the head. The exposed bristles are exposed by having no water absorbent material dispersed among the three columns of exposed bristles.

In one example, the plurality of bristles can include two or more columns of the bristles, which can be staggered relative to one another and be exposed outwardly beyond the water absorbent material. The exposed bristles are exposed by having no water absorbent material dispersed among the two or more columns of exposed bristles.

In one example, the plurality of bristles can include three columns along each of two opposed side edges of the head. Each of the three columns of bristles can be staggered relative to an adjacent one of the three columns.

In one example, the hair brush can include an absorbent material layer carried by the head adjacent and underlying a base layer, backing layer, or carrier layer of the water absorbent material.

In one example, the hair brush can include an absorbent material layer, which can be a non-woven textile material, underlying the water absorbent material.

In one example, the plurality of bristles can include two or more columns of exposed bristles along at least one side edge of the head. The water absorbing material can be dispersed among and between the plurality of bristles but not among the two or more columns of exposed bristles. The two or more columns of exposed bristles can be arranged more densely per unit area on the head than a remainder of the plurality of bristles.

In one example, the plurality of bristles can include two or more columns of exposed bristles along each of two opposed side edges of the head. The water absorbing material can be dispersed among and between the plurality of bristles but not among each of the two or more columns of exposed bristles. Each of the two or more columns of exposed bristles can be arranged more densely per unit area on the head than a remainder of the plurality of bristles.

In one example, the water absorbent material can be a microfiber material.

In one example, the water absorbent material can include a plurality of fabric rods protruding from the head between some of the plurality of bristles.

In one example, the water absorbent material can be a plurality of microfiber material rods that protrude from the head between some of the plurality of bristles. The hair brush can include an absorbent material base layer carried by the head adjacent and underlying a backing or carrier layer of the plurality of fabric rods.

In one example, the hair brush can include an absorbent material base layer, which can be viscose with a synthetic.

In one example according to the teachings of the present disclosure, a hair brush has a body with a head, a plurality of bristles carried by and protruding relative to the head, a water absorbent material carried by part of the body and dispersed among at least some but not all of the plurality of bristles, and an absorbent material base layer carried by the head adjacent a backing or carrier layer of the water absorbent material.

In one example, the absorbent material layer can be a non-woven textile material.

In one example, the absorbent material layer can be viscose with a synthetic.

In one example, the plurality of bristles can include two or more columns of bristles along each of two opposed side edges of the head. The water absorbing material can be dispersed among and between the plurality of bristles between but not among the two or more columns of bristles on each of the two opposed side edges.

In one example, the plurality of bristles can include three columns of bristles exposed beyond the water absorbent material on each of two opposed side edges of the head. The exposed bristles are exposed by having no water absorbent material dispersed among or between the three columns of exposed bristles.

In one example, the plurality of bristles can include three columns of bristles exposed beyond the water absorbent material on each of two opposed side edges of the head. The exposed bristles are exposed by having no water absorbent material dispersed among or between the three columns of exposed bristles. At least one column of the three columns of bristles can be staggered or offset relative to at least another column of the three columns of bristles.

In any of the examples, the body can have a handle coupled to the head and the water absorbent material can be carried by the head.

In any of the examples, the head can define a cavity and can have one or more vents through the head and in communication with the cavity.

In any of the examples, the plurality of bristles can be connected to a bristle pad that is carried by the head.

In any of the examples, the plurality of bristles can be connected to a bristle pad. The bristle pad can have a plurality of perforations formed therethrough. Each of the plurality of bristles can be interspersed among the perforations.

In any of the examples, the water absorbent material can be a microfiber fabric.

In any of the examples, the water absorbent material can be a plurality of flexible microfiber fabric rods that can extend from the backing or carrier layer. The backing or carrier layer can be a microfiber material. The fabric rods can extend in a direction generally parallel to the plurality of bristles.

In any of the examples, the water absorbent material can be a microfiber fabric with antibacterial properties.

In any of the examples, the water absorbent material can be dispersed among a subset of the plurality of bristles.

In any of the examples, the water absorbent material can be dispersed among a subset of the plurality of bristles. The subset of the plurality of bristles can be between approximately 5% and 90% of the bristles, or can be between approximately 5% and 75% of the bristles, or can be between approximately 25% and 75% of the bristles.

In any of the examples, the hair brush can include one or more vents among the plurality of bristles and extending through the head including through a back side of a housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one example of a hair brush according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a lengthwise cross section taken along line X-X of the hair brush of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the hair brush of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the hair brush of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a back view of the hair brush of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a portion of a manufactured blank of absorbent material for the hair brush of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a segment of the absorbent material of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of another example of a hair brush according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of another example of a hair brush according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of another example of a hair brush according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of another example of a hair brush according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of another example of a hair brush according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of another example of a hair brush according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of another example of a hair brush according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of another example of a hair brush according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of another example of a hair brush according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of another example of a hair brush according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows an opposite side perspective view of the hair brush of FIG. 17 in an unassembled condition.

FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of another example of a hair brush according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 20 shows a detail cross section taken along line XX-XX of a bristle portion of the hair brush of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 shows a perspective view of another example of a hair brush according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 22 shows one example of an underside view of the backing layer of the water absorbent material shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 23 shows one example of a top view of the water absorbent material of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24A shows two partial columns of bristles arranged in a non-offset or non-staggered matrix pattern.

FIG. 24B shows two partial columns of bristles arranged in an offset or staggered pattern.

FIG. 25 shows an alternative example of a brush bristle pattern in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 26 shows a top plan view of one example of a brush head in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure and employing the bristle pattern of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 shows an end view of the brush head of FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 shows an end view of another example of a brush head in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 29 shows a top plan view of one example of a brush head in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 30 shows a cross-section taken along line XXX-XXX of the brush head of FIG. 29.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

In view of the foregoing, there exists a need for a hairstyling implement that can aid in accelerating hair drying during styling. The hairstyling brushes disclosed herein are well suited for aiding in the hair drying process. The disclosed hair brush and brush head configurations solve or improve upon one or more of the above noted and/or other problems and disadvantages with prior known and existing hair brushes. The disclosed hair brush and brush head configurations also solve or improve upon the brush head embodiments disclosed in the aforementioned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/106,375 filed Dec. 13, 2013. The aforementioned provisional application Ser. No. 61/979,971 is intended to serve as the priority filing for this application, which is a continuation-in-part of said co-pending application.

As noted above, a common consumer frustration is that wet or damp hair significantly slows down the consumer's hair styling routine. Also as noted above, others have attempted to speed up the consumer's hair styling routing by drying hair. This has previously been addressed with conventional solutions like simple towel-drying one's hair. More refined solutions have also been attempted such as providing an absorbent towel that form fits a consumer's head and hair to increase surface area contact with the hair.

The disclosed styling tools, i.e., hair brushes and brush head configurations, remove water by employing absorbent materials and cause no damage to hair. The disclosed hair brushes and brush head configurations solve or improve upon the aforementioned problems by removing water from the consumer's hair using a brush head configuration with one or more improved design criteria. In one example, the brush head may employ a balanced combination of such design criteria such as: 1) mechanical or bristle water removal; 2) absorbent material, such as a microfiber material or other suitable material, dispersed among a portion of the bristles; and 3) an absorbent base layer of material beneath the absorbent material dispersed among the bristles, such as a non-woven textile layer of material.

Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-7 show one example of a hairstyling implement or hair brush 10 according to the present disclosure. The hair brush 10, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a body 12 with a handle 14 and a head 16. The hair brush 10 also has a plurality of bristles 18 and a water absorbent material 20 to absorb water from wet hair. The handle 14 extends from one end 15 of the head 16. The head 16 in this example is paddle-shaped and is somewhat rectangular, although other head shapes may be used.

The hair brush 10 is for use as a hairstyling implement that also can dry hair simultaneously as the hair is brushed and styled. The water absorbent material 20 on the brush head 16 absorbs and removes water from the hair during styling. The water absorbent material 20 is disposed proximal to the bristles 18. In this example of FIGS. 1-7, the bristles 18 extend from one side of the head 16 and through the water absorbent material. A user need not alter the usual way that they style or brush their hair with such a brush. Drawing the brush over wet hair causes strands of hair to be separated by the bristles. Thus, wet strands of hair will contact the water absorbent material 20, which will absorb and remove water from the hair, thereby reducing the amount of time it takes to dry and style hair.

The handle 14 in this example has a shape that transitions to a shape of the head 16 through a neck 21. The relatively narrow width of the handle 14 widens at the neck 21 to match the width of the head 16. As shown in the cross section of FIG. 2, the head 16 has a depth. The depth of the head 16 can have a tapered profile, being somewhat thicker at the neck 21 and handle end 15 and relatively thinner at a top end 17 of the head 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the neck 21 profile has a step or is angled toward a back side 22 of the hair brush 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hair brush 10 further includes a bristle pad 24 on and connected to a front side of the head 16. The bristle pad 24 has a plurality of perforations 26 and supports the plurality of bristles 18. The water absorbent material 20 overlies the bristle pad 24 in this example. The water absorbent material 20 is disposed adjacent to the bristle pad 24 with the plurality of bristles 18 protruding fully therethrough.

The brush body 12 may be constructed from one or more pieces. In this example, the brush body 12 has two pieces as shown in FIG. 3, including a front housing section 28 and a back housing section 30. The front housing section 28 includes a handle portion defining part of the handle 14 and a head portion defining part of the head 16. The front housing section 28 has an outside surface 38 and an inside surface 40 and has an aperture 42 in the head portion to receive the bristle pad 24. The front housing section 28 includes a mating surface 44 at an edge between the outside surface 38 and the inside surface 40. The mating surface 44 is located around a perimeter of the front housing section 28.

The back housing section 30 also includes a handle portion defining part of the handle 14 and a head portion defining part of the head 16. The back housing section 30 has an outside surface 46 and inside surface 48. The back housing section 30 also includes a mating surface 50 at an edge around a perimeter of the back housing section 30 between the outside surface 46 and the inside surface 48. The inside surface 48 can also include supports 51 protruding forward therefrom to support the bristle pad 24. The supports 51 are in the form of spaced apart thin walls that project from the inside surface 48 at an angle approximately normal to the longitudinal axis of the brush body 12. The supports 51 do not extend completely laterally across a width of the brush body 12. Two such supports 51 are shown, but the number, shape, orientation, and position of such supports can vary. The supports 51 in this example have a notched or serrated free edge 52 to aid in positionally retaining the water absorbent material 20 during use.

The mating surface 44 on the front housing section 28 is adapted to engage the mating surface 50 of the back housing section 30 when the body 12 is assembled. As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 3, the front housing section 28 has positioning elements or guide holes 53 and the back housing 30 has corresponding positioning elements or guide pins 54. The guide holes 53 are adapted to receive the guide pins 54 to properly align the two housing sections when assembled. The guide holes 53 and the guide pins 54 may be located inward from the perimeter of the back housing section 30 and front housing section 28 respectively. The relative positions and locations of the guide holes and guide pins on the front or back housing sections may be reversed.

A cavity 56 under the bristle pad 24 is defined by the assembled head portions of the front housing section 28 and the back housing section 30. The back housing section 30 has a plurality of vent perforations 58 providing openings to the cavity 56 to provide for air flow into, through, and out of the cavity 56. In the present example, the vent perforations 58 are arranged on lateral side walls 59 of the back housing section 30. The number and arrangement of the vent perforations can vary in location and can be uniform, random, and/or can vary in size.

The bristle pad 24, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is formed of a strong yet flexible material such as nylon. The bristle pad 24 also defines a front side of the cavity 56 by covering the aperture 42 in the head portion of the front housing section 28. The bristle pad 24 includes a front surface 60 and a back surface 62 and is generally planar. The bristle pad 24 supports the plurality of bristles 18 in a geometric grid of rows and columns. In this example, the bristles 18 are arranged on the front surface 60 of the bristle pad 24. The plurality of bristles 18 extend outward from and generally perpendicular to the front surface 60 of the bristle pad 24 in a direction opposite the back surface 62. The plurality of bristles 18 may be integrally formed or molded with the bristle pad 24 from the same flexible material.

The perforations 26 in the bristle pad 24 are arranged in rows and columns among and between each of the bristles 18. In this example, the perforations 26 have a square shape. The perforations 26 form a grid-like mesh with cross points and each of the bristles 18 is integrally molded on the bristle pad at the cross points of the grid. Other arrangements, shapes and sizes of perforations 26 can be used and remain within the teachings of the present invention. The perforations 26 allow additional air to flow into, through, and out of the cavity 56 through the bristle pad 24. Air can also flow through the cavity via the vent perforations 58 in the back housing section 30.

The bristle pad 24 can have a plurality of interlock projections 66 arranged around and protruding radially outward from its perimeter. The interlock projections 66 can have a predetermined shape protruding outward from the perimeter of the bristle pad 24. The bristle pad projections 66 can interlock with and seat in corresponding interlock notches 67 adjacent the aperture on the front inside surface 40 of the front housing section 28. The projections 66 and notches 67 align and position the bristle pad 24 during assembly. Other alignment pins, holes, mechanisms, etc. could also be used in place of the projections and notches.

Also shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hair brush 10 includes a retention plate 68 in the cavity of the head 16 to assist in retaining the bristle pad 24 and the absorbent material 20 in place. The retention plate 68 has a top section 70 and a leg 72. The leg 72 extends from an underside of the top section 70 and is arranged perpendicular to the top section 70. The top section 70 of the retention plate 68 has a top surface 74. A notched or serrated ridge 77 is arranged on the top surface 74 of the top section 70. The top section 70 can also have a plurality of perforations 80 so as to enhance air flow through the cavity 56 during use of the hair brush 10. The retention plate 68 seats within the cavity 56 with the leg 72 oriented perpendicular to the inside surface 48 of the back housing 30. The top such section 70 of the retention plate 68 also has guide pins 78 and guide holes 79 in order to be retained securely in place within the cavity 56.

The hair brush 10 of FIGS. 1-7 is only one example of a hair brush configuration that can be used according to the present invention. The shape of the hair brush 10 is not necessarily limited to a paddle style brush as shown, with a somewhat rectangular head, but may include other shapes of brush heads including, but not limited to, other examples disclosed herein.

The water absorbent material 20 in one example can be a microfiber fabric 80. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the microfiber fabric 80 have a continuous base substrate 82 and rows and columns of flexible fabric rods 36 formed extending from the base substrate. The microfiber fabric 80 can be manufactured in a sheet or blank of multiple uncut microfiber fabric segments. The flexible fabric rods 36 can be a chenille, i.e. relatively short lengths of soft, tufted cord, in one example, and can be woven of the microfiber material. The rows and columns of fabric rods 36 are manufactured on the base substrate 82. The columns of fabric rods 80 can have the same width as a width of the arrangement of the plurality of bristles 18 on the bristle pad 24. The columns of fabric rods 36 can be spaced apart on the continuous blank or sheet by base substrate sections having no fabric rods thereon. This can ease the process of cutting the microfiber fabric sheet into appropriately sized segments 84, as shown in FIG. 7, and to allow for assembly as described below. The sheet or blank can have a width designed to precisely fit a length or width of the bristle pad 24. The spacing of the segments of the fabric rods can be designed to fit the length or width. The blanks or sheets of the fabric can then be cut along cut lines C-C crosswise, for example, to fit the width of the bristle pad 24 with essentially no waste. Assembly of the brush 10 may then necessitate that only the base substrate 82 is wrapped around sides of the bristle pad 24 and any fabric rods remain free along sides of the head 16.

The microfiber fabric 80 can alternatively be manufactured in blank form having a continuous substrate and in which rows and columns of the flexible fabric rods are intermittently omitted at intervals corresponding to a length and width of a bristle pad. When the microfiber fabric is thus manufactured in sheets of multiple uncut segments, once cut the base substrate material can be wrapped around both of the sides and the ends of the bristle pad 24.

The microfiber fabric 80 can have antibacterial properties. An antimicrobial additive, e.g. triclosan or a suitable alternative can be applied to the microfiber fabric or other water absorbent material that may be used in the making of the disclosed hair brushes.

During assembly, blank segments 84 of the microfiber fabric 80 are first cut to the appropriate size from the larger sheets. Each cut blank segment 84 of the microfiber fabric 80 is then placed over a bristle pad 24. The plurality of bristles 18 can then penetrate and protrude through the base substrate 82 can be the microfiber fabric. As a result, the fabric rods 36 on the substrate 82 are arranged among and between the bristles 18. Edges 86, either cut sides or selvedges, of the microfiber fabric base substrate 82 are wrapped around and overlap edges of the bristle pad 24. Together the bristle pad 24 and the microfiber fabric 80 are inserted into the aperture 42 in the front housing 28. The retention plate 34 is placed between the back surface 62 of the bristle pad 24 and the inside surface 48 of the back housing section 30. The edges 86 of the microfiber fabric blank segment 84 that is wrapped around the bristle pad 24 will be borne against the retention plate 34 and the serrated edge 52 of the supports 51 will anchor the fabric inside the cavity 56 of the head 16 of the hair brush 10.

During assembly of the brush body 12, the guide pins 54 allow the front housing section 28, and the back housing section 30 to be fitted together precisely with the microfiber fabric blank segment 84 and bristle pad 24 in place and captured therebetween. When the mating surfaces 44, 50 of the front and back housing sections 28, 30 are connected, the cavity 56 is formed between the inside surface 48 of the back housing section 30 and the inside surface 40 of the front housing section 28. The cavity 56 can extend into the handle 14 of the brush body 12, as in the example of FIGS. 1-7.

The brush body 12 can be formed in other different ways and have a variety of different constructions with additional and or alternate features. In the present example, the front housing section 28 and back housing section 30 can be joined by sonic welding. Alternatively, the front housing section and back housing section may have complementary features that snap together. In another alternative, the front housing section and the back housing section may be joined with an adhesive or with removable fasteners. In another alternative, the hair brush body may be constructed from a single unitary piece.

The hair brush 10 can be used in styling hair in the same manner as a typical hair brush. The water absorbent material can draw water out of wet hair and more quickly dry the hair than a typical hair brush alone. Merely brushing wet hair with the hair brush 10 can reduce drying and styling time because the water absorbent material draws water from the hair more quickly than evaporation alone.

Another advantage of the hair brush 10 over a typical hair brush is that, in addition to aiding in creating a hairstyle, it also can reduce the time to dry hair during styling when used with a blow dryer for hair. When used in conjunction with a typical blow dryer, water is drawn out of the hair by the absorbent material and warm air is forced over and through the hair. The warm air can then pass through the perforated bristle pad, into the cavity and out the vents in the body, or vice versa. Such air flow can continuously evaporate water from the water absorbent material simultaneous with the evaporating water from the hair. This allows the water absorbent material to continue to draw water from the hair, further reducing drying time. The variety of disclosed brushes can allow a user to complete virtually any hair styling steps that would otherwise be completed using a brush of comparable shape but with no water absorbent material. Thus, a user need not change brushes during styling and will require no learning curve to style with one of the disclosed brushes.

In another example as illustrated in FIG. 8, a hair brush 100 has a body 102 with a handle 104 joined to a head 106. The head 106 in this example has a somewhat flattened rectangular paddle style shape, similar to head 16. The head 106 has rounded corners and has a depth or thickness. The head 106 can have an aperture in a front of the head 106, similar to the aperture 42. The head 106 carries a plurality of bristles 108 and an absorbent material 110 that seat in the aperture 107. The plurality of bristles 108 in this example is in a ring arranged adjacent and around a perimeter of the water absorbent material 110. The water absorbent material is positioned entirely within the bristle ring, in contrast to example above in which the bristles protrude through a microfiber fabric. The bristles 108 can be integrally molded with a base or bristle pad 114 or can be individually mounted on the base. The water absorbent material 110 can be provided as an absorbent block of material or as a microfiber fabric.

In the example of FIG. 8, the exposed surface 111 of the microfiber fabric can have a texture 112. The texture 112 can be applied, added, or created on the microfiber fabric 111 in a number of different ways. The texture 112 can be applied by heat stamping or sewing the texture onto the microfiber fabric surface 111. In another alternative, the texture 112 of the microfiber fabric can be applied by weaving relatively narrow strips of microfiber fabric together to form larger sheets of fabric having a relatively greater thickness. Such a weave can increase the effective thickness of the microfiber fabric thereby increasing its absorbent characteristics. The purpose of adding texture to the absorbent material or microfiber fabric is to increase the absorbent surface area of the contact surface 111 of the water absorbent material 110.

As shown in FIG. 8 and as stated above, the plurality of bristles 108 can be supported on the bristle pad 114 that surrounds the water absorbent material. The water absorbent material can overlie a portion of the bristle pad 114. The bristle pad or base substrate 114 can be sized to fill the aperture in the head 106, can be formed of a flexible material, and can have perforations to allow air flow through a brush body cavity during hairstyling and for drying the water absorbent material afterward. The brush body 102 can be constructed in essentially the same manner as the body 12 of the brush 10, if desired.

In another example as illustrated in FIG. 9, a hair brush 200 has a body 202 with a handle 204 extending from a paddle shaped head 206. The head 206 in this example has a plurality of bristles 208 and a water absorbent material 210 exposed on the same surface of the head. The bristles 208 in this example are arranged in a series of concentric rings alternating with a series of concentric rings of the absorbent material 210. The alternating rings are graduated in size, growing smaller toward a central area 214 of the head 206. In this example, the smallest ring of bristles surrounds the central area 214 covered by the water absorbent material 210. The water absorbent material 210 can be a microfiber fabric. Such a microfiber fabric in this and in other examples can have a texture, as discussed above, or can be woven in a manner similar to terrycloth as is commonly used in cotton towels. The bristles 208 can be supported on a bristle substrate or pad 212. The water absorbent material 210 or at least a portion thereof can be disposed under the bristle substrate 212 with absorbent material texture or segments protruding through the pad or substrate. Alternatively, the water absorbent material rings can each overlie the pad or substrate 212. The bristle pad or substrate 212 can have perforations to allow air flow through the brush during drying and styling of the hair. A separate support component can underlie one or both of the bristle pad 212, the water absorbent material 210, or both, though not necessary to the teachings of this or any other example.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a hair brush 300 having a cylindrical head or round brush head. The hair brush 300 has a body 302 with a handle 304 extending from one end of a cylindrical head 306. The handle 304 can be shaped so as to be comfortable to hold, as can any of the other handles disclosed and described herein. The body has a neck 305 that provides for a transition from the shape and diameter of the handle 304 to the shape and diameter of the head 306. The neck 305 can be narrower in diameter than either the handle 304 or the head 306. The diameter of the cylindrical head 306 can vary based on the hairstyling effects desired. A relatively larger diameter cylindrical head is used to form larger hair curls and a relatively smaller diameter cylindrical head is used to form smaller hair curls.

In the example of FIG. 10, the head 306 is a cylinder and has a plurality of bristles 308, protruding through, mounted on or integrally molded to the outer surface of the head 306. The bristles 308 extend radially outward relative to a lengthwise axis Y-Y of the body 302. The head 306 has an absorbent material 310 mounted on another part of the head. The bristles 308 and the water absorbent material 310 can be arranged in alternating spirals or helical patterns over the length of the cylindrical shape of the head 306. When viewed from one side of the head 306, the plurality of bristles 308 and the water absorbent material 310 can appear to form spiral stripes around the head in the manner of a barber pole or a candy cane.

In the example of FIG. 10, the water absorbent material 310 can again be a microfiber fabric. The microfiber fabric can be supported and wrapped around a portion of the head 306 so as to underlie a substrate or base 312 supporting the bristles 308 on the head 306. Alternatively, the water absorbent material 310 can overlie a substrate that supports bristles, the outer surface of the brush or both. Portions of the head 306 or the base or bristle substrate 312, even between the bristles 308, can be perforated to further allow air flow through the head to reduce styling time and to aid in drying the water absorbent material 310 in between uses.

FIG. 11 shows another example of a hair brush 400 with a body 402 and a handle 404 joined by a neck 406 to a head 408. The head 408 has a plurality of bristles 410 and a water absorbent material 412 positioned on the same surface of the head. In this example, the water absorbent material does not have fabric rods as disclosed in the example of FIG. 1, but has a surface texture 414. The bristles 410 extend through the water absorbent material. The water absorbent material 412 overlies a bristle substrate, pad, or base (not shown). The water absorbent material can again be a microfiber fabric. The microfiber fabric can have a loose textured surface such as that of a terry cloth material, typically used in cotton toweling, but woven or formed of microfiber. Otherwise, the structure of the example of FIG. 11 can be similar to the example of FIG. 1. In this example, the bristles 410 are again arranged in rows and columns, though not as closely spaced.

FIG. 12 shows another example of a hair brush 500 having a body 502 with a handle 504 extending from a head 506. The head 508 in this example is a somewhat flattened rectangular paddle style head similar to the example of FIG. 1. The head 508 has a plurality of bristles 510 and a water absorbent material provided by a plurality of absorbent rods 512 attached to a base substrate 514. The bristles 510 are supported by and arranged in rows and columns on a base, substrate, or bristle pad 516. The absorbent rods 512 and the base substrate 514 can be formed of a microfiber fabric. The bristle base or pad 516 can have elongate slots 518 arranged between rows or columns of the bristles 510. When assembled, the bristle base or pad 516 can overlie the base substrate 514 of the water absorbent material while allowing the rods 512 to extend through the elongate slots 518 from a back to a front between the rows or columns of bristles. The elongate slots 518 also can be configured to allow air to pass through the bristle base or pad 516 during styling. The brush body 502 can have a cavity defined within the brush body. Sides or a back of the brush body 502 can include vent holes 520 or perforations through to the cavity to allow air to flow through the brush during drying and styling, as with any of the prior examples.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show additional examples of water absorbing hairstyling implements 600, 700. The hairstyling implements 600, 700 in these examples employ a water absorbing material of a foam construction. In the example of FIG. 13, the styling implement 600 has a body 602 with a handle 604 connected by a neck 606 to a head 608. The head 608 has thin sheets of water absorbing foam joined to the head in serpentine waves or loops 610. The waves or loops 610 can be joined to the head 608 in spaced apart rows arranged on the head 608. The rows can be spaced longitudinally along a longitudinal axis Z-Z of the body 602 and can each extend laterally across a width of the head 608. The waves or loops 610 can be configured to maximize contact with wet hair during styling. In the present example, the foam waves or loops 610 vary in length and are longer nearer the axis Z-Z of the head 608. The length of each loop can be uniform or can vary relative to other of the loops or rows. The width of each loop is uniform with the others in this example, but can vary and remain within the teachings of the present invention. The hairstyling implement 600 of FIG. 13 also includes a column of comb-like teeth 612 on each of the two longitudinal sides of the head 608. The water absorbent foam material is disposed between the rows of teeth. The teeth 612 can aid in detangling hair while directing strands of hair over the foam loops 610. The teeth 612 can be omitted and yet the styling implement 600 remains within the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows one such example of a hairstyling implement. The styling implement 700 of FIG. 14 has a body 702 with a handle 704 connecting at a neck 706 to a head 708. The head 708 has thin sheets of water absorbing foam forming vanes 710 protruding from one surface 712 of the head. The vanes 710 can be joined to the surface 712 on the head 708 in any suitable manner or can extend through slots in the surface 712. The vanes 710 are arranged edge to edge in columns oriented parallel relative to a longitudinal axis W-W of the body 702. Alternatively, the vanes 710 can be oriented in rows laterally across and perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis W-W of the body 702. The vanes need not be in rows or columns, but instead could be arranged randomly on the surface 712. In another alternative, comb-like teeth could be added to sides of the head or to another position on the head to aid in guiding wet hair over the absorbent vanes. Bristles could also be interspersed among the waves or loops 610 in each of these examples.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show additional examples of water absorbing hair brushes. In FIG. 15, a hair brush 800 has a body 802 with a handle 804 joined at a neck 806 to a head 808. The head 808 in this example is a somewhat flattened rectangular or oval paddle style head. The head 808 carries a plurality of bristles 810 and a water absorbent material. The water absorbent material is arranged in parallel ridges 812 formed of a foam material such as a small open cell foam. The brush body 802 has a longitudinal axis A-A. The bristles 810 are arranged in columns parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A. The ridges 812 are arranged parallel to and in alternating columns with the columns of bristles 810. The foam ridges 812 can extend substantially the length of the head 808. The absorbent foam ridges 812 can be attached on top of a front surface 814 on the head 808. Alternatively, the front surface 814 of the head 808 can include slots 816 for receiving foam ridges 812 that pass through from a back side of the front surface 814 to protrude outward from the head 808. The ridges 812 can thus be connected to a larger foam base or block (not shown) with a cavity of the head 808. The bristles 810 can be attached to or extend through the front surface of the head 808. The bristles 810 can be mounted individually on the front surface 814. Alternatively, the bristles 810 can be integrally molded with the front surface 814 of the head. The bristles can also be carried on a bristle pad that is the front surface 814 or that is beneath the front surface.

In FIG. 16, a hair brush 900 has a body 902, and a handle 904 joined at a neck 906 to a head 908. The head 908 in this example is a somewhat flattened rectangular or oval paddle style head. The head 908 again carries a plurality of bristles 910 and a water absorbent material. The water absorbent material has ridges 912 of an absorbent foam material. The brush body 902 has a longitudinal axis B-B. The bristles 910 are arranged in rows across the head 908 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis B-B. The absorbent ridges 912 are arranged parallel to and alternating with the rows of bristles 910. The ridges 912 can extend substantially the width of the head. Similar to FIG. 15, the absorbent foam ridges 912 can be attached on top of a front surface 914. Alternatively, the front surface 914 can include slots 916 and the foam ridges 912 can protrude through the slots from a back side of the front surface 914 and outward from the head 908. The bristles 910 can be mounted individually on the front surface 914 or be carried on a base or pad that is separate from or that is the front surface. Alternatively, the bristles can be integrally molded with the front surface of the head.

As with the prior examples, the brush bodies shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 may be constructed from one piece or from two or more pieces. The front face can be formed of the same material as the brush body or a different material such as a relatively more flexible material.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show another example of a water absorbing hair brush according to the teachings of the present invention. A hair brush 1000 includes a body 1002 and a water absorbent material. In this example, the water absorbent material has a foam block 1003. The body 1002 has a head 1004 connected at a neck 1006 to a handle 1008, although a handle may be omitted and remain within the teachings of the present invention. The body 1002 has a front side 1010 as shown in FIG. 17 and a back side 1012 as shown in FIG. 18. The head 1004 of the body 1002 has a recess 1014 formed in the back side 1012. The body 1002 further has perforations 1015 through the back side 1012 to the front side 1010, as shown in FIG. 18, within the recess 1014. The foam block 1003 has foam projections that form oversized or thick bristles 1016. The foam block 1003 is sized to fit snugly or interferingly in the recess 1014. The bristles 1016 are sized and arranged to fit through the perforations 1015 when the block 1003 is placed in the recess 1014 of the head 1004. The bristles 1016 project through the perforations 1015 and protrude outwardly from the front side 1010. Further the back side 1012 of the head 1004 has a rectangular notch 1018 at a top end. The foam block 1003 has a complimentary sized retention tab 1020 protruding from one end. When the foam block 1003 is placed in the recess 1014 on the back side 1012 of the head 1004, the retention tab 1020 seats in the notch 1018 to help retain the foam block 1003 in the recess 1014 and to assist a user in grasping and removing the water absorbent material block 1003 therefrom, as needed. The number, size, location, and arrangement of the notch and retention tab, or means of retention and release, can vary and remain within the teachings of the present invention.

The block 1003 and the bristles 1016 are integrally formed together of a water absorbent material such as a small open cell foam. The foam block 1003 can be integrally formed or molded with the bristles 1016. The foam block 1003 and bristles 1014 can be made of a foam material having sufficient rigidity to permit the bristles to separate and comb through wet hair. The body 1002 of the brush 1000 may be formed of one piece or more than one piece fitted together, as with the other examples described herein. The body can be made of injection molded plastic. The materials and arrangement of the body and the foam block can vary and remain within the teachings of the present invention. The ability to remove the water absorbent material from the body can allow a user to squeeze water from the bristles and block, to allow easy replacement, or both. Having the block 1003 exposed will also greatly aid in evaporation of moisture from the water absorbent material when not being used, even if still retained in the recess.

A hair brush 1100 is shown in FIG. 19 and has a body 1102 with a handle 1104 extending from a cylindrical head 1106. The body 1102 has a longitudinal axis V-V. The handle 1104 is joined to the head 1106 at a neck 1107. The cylindrical head 1106 has a plurality of oversized bristles 1108. The bristles 1108 are arranged to extend radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis V-V. The head 1106 can be hollow and can have an open end 1114 opposite the handle end. The bristles 1108 have a center element 1110, as shown in FIG. 20, with a coating 1112 of a water absorbent material. The center element 1110 of the bristles can be made of nylon or of a material with similar qualities for strength and flexibility. The center element 1110 of the bristles 1100 can be coated or encased in the water absorbent material layer 1112 such as a small open cell foam. The bristles can be individually mounted on the head 1106. Alternatively, the water absorbent material layer 1112 can be overmolded onto a plastic or nylon sleeve with integral bristles. The brush can include a cylinder base (not shown) for receiving such a removably replaceable sleeve.

FIG. 21 shows another example of a hair brush 1200 according to the present invention. The hair brush 1200 has a body 1202 with a bristle face 1204 and a gripping face 1206. The body 1202 has an absorbent core or block 1208 and a carrier 1209. The carrier 1209 can be plastic, wood, metal, or the like and has a support plate 1211 against which the core or block 1208 rests. The brush 1200 has no separate handle in this example. A plurality of bristles 1210 are mounted on or protrude through the bristle face 1204. The carrier 1209 has an arc shaped bridge 1212 opposite the bristle face 1204. The bridge 1212 extends between one end of the body 1202 and the opposite end of the body. A midpoint 1214 of the bridge 1212 is spaced apart from a back side of the plate 1211 to create a space to receive the absorbent core 1208. The absorbent core 1208 is captured under the bridge 1212 and on the back side of the plate 1211 opposite the bristle face 1204. The absorbent core 1208 can be formed of a water absorbent foam material. The bridge 1212 can have a grip 1216 disposed at the midpoint 1214 to create a comfortable hold for the user. One end or the other of the bridge 1212 can be releasably attached to one end or the other of the plate 1211 in order to allow the absorbent core to be removable and replaceable within the body 1202. A user can release the bridge 1212 and replace a wet core with a dry core if desired. In one example, the bridge 1212 can be formed of a material that is sufficiently flexible to allow a user to press the bridge 1212 toward the plate 1211 to squeeze the absorbent core 1208 to release water.

The bristles 1210 have a center element (not shown), similar to the previous examples, of a non-absorbent, relatively stiff or rigid material, such as nylon. Each of the center elements is again coated with a water absorbent foam material such as shown in FIG. 20. The foam coating on the bristles 1210 can wick water from the bristles to the absorbent core 1208. The bristle face 1204 can have perforations for attachment of the bristles 1210 with the foam coating and to allow the foam coating on the bristles 1210 to contact the foam core 1208. Such contact between the foam coating and the foam core 1208 permits water absorbed from wet hair during styling by the bristles 1210 to be wicked away to the absorbent foam core 1208. The foam core 1208 can be removable and can be squeezed, whether removed or not, to release water absorbed by the core. The carrier can be constructed so that the core and bristles are formed as one piece with the bristles protruding through perforations (not shown) on the support plate. The open sides of the carrier 1209 allow water to evaporate and dry the absorbent core 1208.

The water-removing hair brush 10 as described above has a body 12 or housing with a plurality of vents 58 along the sides of the housing that are open to the interior cavity 56 of the housing. A bristle pad 24 is mounted to the housing and carries the plurality of bristles 18. The bristles are arranged in aligned rows and columns on the brush head 16. An absorbent fabric material 20 is provided with fabric rods 36 that protrude away from the brush head. The fabric rods are dispersed among the bristles and are oriented generally parallel with the bristles. The fabric rods are dispersed among essentially all of the bristles on the hair brush 10 and are positioned immediately adjacent and behind the first column of bristles on each side of the brush head and the first row of bristles on each end of the brush head.

The intent of the hair brush 10 is for the absorbent fabric rods 36 to absorb water during hair brushing. The vents 58 are intended to allow air flow through the housing interior or cavity 56 to allow moisture absorbed by the fabric rods to evaporate so that the absorbent material can dry quickly and effectively. By removing water from the consumer's hair during brushing, the hair brush 10 can speed up the hair drying process and thus can speed up the consumer's hairstyling routine.

In one example, the fabric rods 36 can be formed from a microfiber material and woven to produce a backing or carrier layer (see FIG. 22) from which the rods protrude (see FIG. 23). In other examples, the fabric rods can be formed of other suitably absorbent materials, even non-fabric materials. The rods can be formed having other non-rod-like structures as well. For example, the absorbent material can have ridges or waves between the bristles instead of discrete rods. The rods can also be formed having any number of structures. The rods or other water-absorbing material can be chenille, woven textile, non-woven substrate material, foam, strands of fabric wound or twisted together, or other suitable materials and structures. The water absorbent material is not limited herein to just fabric or to just a rod-like structure. The material should be water absorbent and should be positioned among and between at least some of the bristles on the brush head and protrude from the surface of the brush head in the direction of the bristles.

One potential limitation of the hair brush 10 is that hair strands may not always achieve full depth along the length of the bristles when hair is brushed. The fabric rods 36, which are dispersed among all of the bristles 18 may inhibit hair strands from being fully engaged by the bristles, i.e., the fabric rods may block hair strands from getting fully within and among the bristles. Thus, the fabric rods may also not fully engage hair strands along their length. This can reduce or inhibit the amount of water absorbed by the fabric rods during brushing. The fabric rods may only absorb water at their tips so that the tips become saturated with water while the stalks or stems of the rods are not saturated. This can slow the effectiveness of the brush head until water wicks vertically from the tips along the length of the fabric rods.

Another potential limitation with the hair brush 10 is that the fabric rods 36 at the incoming hair contacting edge of the brush head may quickly become saturated with water but the trailing fabric rods may not. Thus, only part of the brush head area may absorb a majority of the water from the consumer's hair during brushing. Again, the water first must wick along the length of the fabric rods 36 to the backing or substrate layer 82 (see FIG. 22), which may then also become saturated only within the area of the saturated rods. The remaining area of the backing may not be saturated with water. Water must instead wick along the backing in a horizontal direction to saturate the remainder of the absorbent fabric rod backing layer. Depending on the structure of the backing, this horizontal wicking (across the width or against the grain of the backing or substrate layer 82 fibers) may not occur very efficiently (see FIG. 23). In the disclosed example, the backing or substrate layer 82 has a grain sewn into the layer. Water may wick relatively efficiently along the grain, but much less efficiently across or against the grain.

As a result of these potential limitations, the hair brush 10 may quickly become saturated in the most used areas of the brush head. Once these areas become saturated, the brush then may not be able to absorb additional water as effectively as if efforts are made to increase absorbency, such as is disclosed further below. The fabric rods 36 have been shown through commercial use and through testing to wick water rather well in their lengthwise or vertical direction toward the carrier or backing layer or base substrate 82 and the brush head 16. The backing layer or base substrate 82 of the hair brush 10, however, has been shown to wick water rather poorly in the horizontal direction along the material of the backing layer, and even less so against the grain or across the fibers of the backing layer (see FIG. 23).

According to the teachings of the present disclosure, a number of design criteria have been considered and tested to improve the water-removing capability of a hair brush while a consumer's hair is brushed. During testing, techniques, methods, and design changes for improving the mechanical water removal of the hair brush was considered. For example, bristle alignment variations were considered and tested. Staggered bristles at the edges of the brush were proven to better mechanically remove water from the consumer's hair during brushing. Bristle location was also considered and tested. Leaving exposed bristles at the edges of the brush head, i.e., with no adjacent fabric rods dispersed between the bristles, were proven to better allow hair to fully engage the brush bristles along the full length, and not just the tips, of the bristles during brushing. Different cross-sectional shapes of the bristle stalks or stems were also considered and tested. Adding a flow channel along the length of the stalks or stems of the bristles was proven to not significantly affect mechanical water removal during brushing. However, it is certainly within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure that other bristle shapes, though not specifically tested, other than smooth, round bristles, may also prove to be effective, such as a non-round bristle shape or the like. It is also possible that variations of this feature in combination with one or more other design criteria disclosed and/or discussed herein may also prove to be effective as well.

Variations in the bristle pad flexibility and pad curvature were also considered and tested. The effect of changing the flexibility of the bristle pad and the curvature of the bristle pad face were found to be negligible. However, it is certainly within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure that other bristle pad flexibilities not tested and/or bristle pad curvatures not tested may also prove to be effective. It is also possible that variations of these features in combination with one or more other design criteria disclosed and/or discussed may also prove to be effective as well.

Variations in bristle spacing, density (bristles per unit area on a brush head), arrangement, and count (total number of bristles on the brush head) may also be employed to improve the mechanical water removal of the bristles during brushing. With respect to bristle arrangement, FIG. 24A shows brush bristles 1310 arranged such that adjacent columns of the bristles are aligned with one another. FIG. 24B shows bristles 1320 arranged such that adjacent columns of the bristles are staggered or offset relative to one another. Such variations may be employed in combination with one or more other design criteria disclosed and discussed herein to produce such improved water removal.

Improving the water absorption capability of the absorbent fabric rods or water absorbent material was also considered. Different absorbent materials were considered and tested. Microfiber proved to perform well and other material selections did not prove to significantly increase water absorption. There may be more expensive or exotic materials that absorb more water per unit volume of material. Cost considerations may result in such materials not being selected or not being a commercially reasonable choice. Material that is particularly well suited for use with blow drying were also considered and tested. Materials that included an absorbent additive were also considered and tested. Again, the effect of these types of changes did not prove to significantly increase the absorption capability or effectiveness of the brush head. However, it is certainly within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure that other absorbent material selections, even non-fabric materials, which were not tested, may also prove to be effective and may likewise be utilized as an absorbent material to achieve the affects described herein. It is also possible that variations of these features in combination with one or more other design criteria disclosed and/or discussed may also prove to be effective as well.

Improving the horizontal wicking capability of the absorbent material was also considered and tested. It was shown that employing a base layer of absorbent fabric or other absorbent material against the backing layer of the water absorbent fabric rod material significantly improved water wicking across the brush head. Different materials were tested or considered including woven and non-woven textiles. The combined cost and wicking effectiveness were also considered. Inexpensive non-woven textile fabrics proved to provide a suitable absorbent material layer. More expensive or exotic materials may also be suitable. Such a layer positioned against the backing or carrier layer of the water absorbent rod material proved to wick water away from the backing layer and horizontally across the brush head. However, it is certainly within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure that other absorbent material layer selections, even non-fabric materials, which were not tested, may also prove to be effective as a horizontal wicking layer. It is also possible that variations of this feature in combination with one or more other design criteria disclosed and/or discussed may also prove to be effective as well.

Removing and/or repositioning at least portions of the absorbent rods or fabric rods was also considered and tested. It was shown that removing or shaving fabric rods from the leading side edge or the side edges of the absorbent material, in order to expose some bristles or even a column or columns of the bristles along the leading edge or both side edges of the brush head, increased the water absorbing efficiency of the water absorbent fabric material. This also was shown to increase the mechanical water removal of the exposed bristles relative to a brush head that had substantially complete coverage of absorbent rods among all the bristles. Such a result is surprising, as one would tend to expect that providing more absorbent material would increase the absorbency of the brush. One would have expected that, by reducing the amount of absorbent material, the brush would be less effective in absorbing water, not more effective. However, it is certainly within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure that other arrangements of bristles and fabric rods not tested may also prove to be effective at mechanically removing and absorbing water during brushing. It is also possible that variations of this feature in combination with one or more other design criteria disclosed and/or discussed may also prove to be effective as well.

FIGS. 25-27 show one example of a brush head 1330 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. In this example, mechanical water removal has been addressed in multiple ways. As one enhancement, two or more columns 1332 of bristles 1334 can be exposed along a leading side edge or along each of the opposed side edges 1336 of the brush head 1330. FIG. 25 shows a schematic of the bristles 1334 on the brush head 1330. FIG. 26 shows a plan view of the brush head 1330 with the bristles 1334 and the water absorbent material including both the fabric rods 1338 and the backing or carrier layer 1340 of the water absorbent material. The fabric rods 1338 are dispersed on the brush head 1330 only among the remainder of the bristles 1334 between the exposed columns 1332 of the bristles. In this example, the backing or carrier layer 1340 is also provided only on the brush head at the base of the fabric rods 1338, not on the brush head at the base of the bristles 1334 within the exposed columns 1332, where there are no fabric rods. No water absorbent fabric rod or carrier layer material is present in these exposed bristle regions or columns 1332.

As another enhancement, the bristles 1334 in these exposed regions or columns 1332 are staggered (i.e., not linearly aligned) in the side edge-to-side edge direction of brushing during use. See FIGS. 24B and 25, which show the staggered arrangement of the bristles 1334 within these regions or columns 1332. The first column of bristles 1334 is thus offset relative to the next adjacent or second column of bristles and the next adjacent or third column of bristles is again offset from the second column.

As a further enhancement, there are more bristles 1334 per unit area (i.e., greater bristle density) in these exposed regions or columns 1332 to create more hair interaction at the leading side edges 1336 on the brush head 1330. The exposed nature of the bristles 1334 allows hair to fully engage the bristles when first encountering the brush head 1330 during brushing. Thus, more hair can contact the bristles 1334 over the bristle length. The staggering of the bristles 1334 creates a non-linear path for the hair strands to follow, which enhances water removal from the strands and increases the hair's ability to interact more fully with the water absorbent material of the rods 1338 and the backing or carrier layer 1340.

In the disclosed example, there are three columns 1332 of the exposed and staggered bristles 1334 along each side edge 1336 on the brush head 1330 and then a fourth column adjacent the water absorbent fabric rods 1338 and backing layer 1340. It should be, however, appreciated that any other number of exposed bristles that do not have absorbent material rods 1338 (whether considering or not considering the base layer 1340) may be included, and that the aforementioned example embodiment is not intended to be limiting. In other examples, it may be that only the first column of bristles 1334 is exposed with no fabric rods 1338 between the first and second columns. In other examples, the columns 1332 can include two or more columns of the exposed bristles 1334. Moreover, it is appreciated that staggering or offsetting the bristles 1334 may not be necessary or required to achieve the desired enhanced water removal within the scope of the inventions described herein. Any number of bristle arrangements, densities, and orientations may likewise be employed.

As another enhancement, the water absorbent fabric rods 1338, or other suitable water absorbent materials and structures, may still be included in the middle region of the brush head 1330, which includes the remainder of the bristles 1334. The water absorbent material in one example can again be a microfiber material. Water is absorbed during brushing by the microfiber material. The hair strands will more fully contact the rods 1338 because of the foregoing mechanical enhancements resulting in the hair becoming more fully embedded in and engaged with the bristles 1334. The hair strands will then also become more fully embedded in and engaged with the fabric rods 1338 over the full rod length. Thus, there will be more surface contact between the hair strands and the water absorbent material, such as the fabric rods. This results in more water being absorbed by a greater majority of the rods over a greater majority of the length of the rods.

In this example, there are five columns of absorbent rods 1338 within the middle region of the brush head 1330. However, it should be appreciated that any other number of absorbent rods, rows, columns, and the like may be included, and that the aforementioned example embodiment is not intended to be limiting. Moreover, it should be appreciated that other water absorbent materials may be included or substituted for the absorbent rods in some embodiments. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that a brush may have different configurations of water absorbent materials, for example in different areas or portions of the brush head (i.e., in rows, leaving space between, or aligning or positioned adjacent and interior of the free exposed bristle columns, or forming a circle or oval shape in the middle region leaving exposed bristles there around, etc.) and the aforementioned embodiments are not intended to be limiting. There may thus be exposed bristles around the entire circumference of the brush head or on the top edge and/or the bottom edge of the brush head. The water absorbent material, such as the fabric rods or other suitable absorbent material can potentially be any configuration that takes up less than all of the brush head area, leaving some of the bristles exposed.

As another enhancement, the bristles 1334 in the middle region of the brush head 1330 are less dense than those in the exposed regions or columns 1334 and are not staggered. Instead, the middle region bristles 1334 are in a matrix arrangement and are aligned in both the lengthwise and widthwise directions on the bristle pad (see FIGS. 25 and 27). This may allow for still further mechanical water removal to be absorbed by the fabric rods 1338 while allowing the hair strands to more easily thread through the middle region. Consumer comfort was considered during development of the example embodiment of FIGS. 25-27. Too much bristle/hair interaction can lead to discomfort by tension applied to the hair strands. If the hair has too much surface interaction with the bristles, it can increase pulling force on the hair strands, causing consumer discomfort. Having less bristle density in the water absorbent material region (in the middle region in this example) and having the linear matrix bristle arrangement may reduce the bristle/hair interaction in this region. This also may allow more water absorbent material/hair interaction in this region, which can increase water absorption.

As yet another enhancement, an absorbent material layer 1342 or wicking material layer, such as a non-woven textile or a fabric base layer, is positioned underlying the carrier or backing layer 1340 of the water absorbent material (i.e., the microfiber fabric rods 1338 in this example). The absorbent material layer 1342 can wick water away from the saturated microfiber water absorbent material and can wick water evenly across the surface area of the layer. In this example, the non-woven material of the absorbent material layer 1342 can be a viscose and synthetic material. However, it should again be appreciated that any number of absorbent materials may be utilized as the absorbent material or wicking material layer 1342 and the aforementioned example embodiment is not intended to be limiting. It is also possible that the absorbent elements of one material, such as the fabric rods, can be adhered or attached to a carrier or backing layer 1340 of another different material and that the adjacent absorbent material layer or wicking layer 1342 can be yet another different material from one or both of those absorbent materials. The absorbent material layer 1342 can fill nearly the entirety of the cavity within the housing, as depicted in FIG. 27 in the cut-away portion on the end of the housing. In such an example, the bristle pad to which the bristles 1334 would be attached would lie against the bottom of the housing against the back wall 1346 of the housing. This would require relatively long bristles 1334 extending through the absorbent material layer 1342.

As a further enhancement, a gap or free space 1344 is provided between the exposed columns 1332 of the bristles 1334 and the remainder of the bristles within the middle section of the brush head 1330. The gap or free space 1344 can assist in drying the water absorbent material, including the fabric rods 1338 and the backing layer 1340 between uses. The gap or free space 1344 can also aloe the hair to more easily transition between the more densely packed exposed columns 1332 of the bristles 1334 and the remainder of the bristles and the water absorbent material within in the middle section of the brush head 1330.

FIG. 28 shows a simplified cross-section of a brush head 1350 very similar to the brush head 1330 of FIGS. 25-27. In this example, the absorbent material layer or wicking layer 1348 is shown underlying an absorbent material carrier or backing layer 1352. The fabric rods 1338 are shown protruding upward among the bristles 1334 in the middle region of the brush head 1350, though again no bristle pad is shown. The bristles 1334 are shown as having the exposed edge regions or columns 1332 of higher density staggered bristles and the middle region of lower density aligned bristles. One difference in this embodiment includes that the backing or carrier layer 1352 of the water absorbent material overlies the entire surface of the absorbent material layer or wicking layer 1348, not just directly beneath the fabric rods 1338 of the water absorbent material. The entire surface of the brush head 1350 surface is covered by the base or carrier layer 1352 and the absorbent material layer or wicking layer 1342 is beneath it and completely covered. In the example of FIGS. 25-27, the surface of the absorbent material layer or wicking material layer 1342 is exposed in the higher density exposed bristle regions or columns 1332, there being no water absorbent material backing or carrier layer 1340 except directly beneath the absorbent rods 1338. The other difference in this embodiment is that the absorbent material layer 1348 does not fill nearly the entire cavity within the housing. The layer is thinner, which allows for a shorter bristle 1334 length extending through the thinner layer 1348. The absorbent material layer 1348 is sandwiched between the backing layer 1352 of the water absorbent material and a bristle pad 1354 and clamped in place by sections of the housing, as in the earlier described examples.

As a still further enhancement, the bristle pad 1354 can be a flexible pad in either brush embodiment. This can allow the bristle tips 1356 to conform to the shape and contour of the user's head during brushing. This can increase comfort during brushing while not reducing water-removing performance.

FIGS. 29 and 30 show yet another example of a brush head 1360. In this example, the brush head has the same construction as that in FIG. 28, except that the brush head is provided with a pair of vents 1362 that extend through the thickness of the housing. Each of the vents 1362 in this example is positioned in the gap or free space 1344 between the exposed column 1332 of the bristles 1334 and the remainder of the bristles in the middle section. The vents 1362 are formed via elongate holes through each of the backing layer 1352, the absorbent material layer 1348, and the bristle pad 1354 and via elongate holes 1364 in the back side 1346 of the housing. In this example, the vents 1362 can provide air flow through the brush head 1360 while styling hair using a blow dryer. Air can pass through the vents 1362 in the brush head 1360 to a user's scalp and hair to help dry the hair during styling. The vents 1362 can then also aid in allowing free flow of air into the cavity of the brush head 1360 to aid in the absorbent materials and layers drying in between uses.

As noted above, each of the aforementioned hair brush enhancements may be employed individually or in combination with one or more other of the enhancements and design criteria disclosed and discussed herein. In the particular example described and shown in FIGS. 25-27, the brush head construction utilizes a lower density matrix of bristles in the center of the brush and a higher density of offset or staggered bristles on the exposed bristle side edges of the brush head. This can increase surface contact with hair and therefore remove more water. A high-absorbent antimicrobial microfiber can be arranged in five columns in the middle region and centered on the brush head. The microfiber material can be limited to the center as to not prevent contact between the bristles and the hair on the side edges or the entire perimeter edge of the brush head.

The absorbent material layer or wicking layer can be a non-woven base layer that distributes excess water from the saturated microfiber rods and backing or carrier layer to allow for more absorption into the microfiber rods from the hair. Finally, ventilation and draining is another aspect of the brush head design that may aid in drying and recovery of the brush for a next use. Holes can be included in the bristle pad as well as in the housing for the brush itself so as to help prevent bacterial growth and to ensure the brush dries as quickly as possible between uses. Excess water that is mechanically removed but not absorbed can drain from the housing as needed.

The disclosed example of FIGS. 25-27 was found to be a particularly effective solution for the hair brush product when considering effectiveness, design, manufacturability, and cost. The bristles and bristle pad can be comprised of a mixture of Nylons to yield a durometer that is stiff enough to remove water but flexible enough for comfort. Alternatives to Nylon could be virtually any type of plastic material. Additionally, a coating could be applied to the bristles to facilitate the removal of water. The tips can be coated in epoxy having a rounded shape for added scalp comfort during brushing. Epoxy could be substituted with plastic-like adhesives.

The microfiber material can be a blend of polyamide and synthetic. The microfiber can have antimicrobial properties. The water absorbent material need not be microfiber and need not even be fabric. The rods can be replaced by other absorbent elements or features among the bristles. The water absorbent material is intended to absorb a large amount of water and to create a large amount of surface area to maximize absorption. Thus, other materials can therefore certainly be used. For example, non-woven materials, viscose, wood pulp additives, polyester, absorbent additives, Rayon, PVA, other absorbent textiles, and/or combinations thereof can be utilized for the absorbent rods and backing layer. The rods can be replaced by ridges, waves, wave patterns, other protruding elements or shapes, or the like that are carried by the backing layer. It may be highly desirable that an antimicrobial additive be included in the fabric or base material to inhibit mold and bacterial growth.

The absorbent material layer, base layer, or wicking layer can be a non-woven textile such as the above noted viscose and a synthetic, such as the aforementioned Rayon. Potential alternatives may be similar to the materials listed immediately above. Again, the absorbent base layer or wicking layer is intended to absorb water through the volume of the layer and transmit water horizontally across the area of the layer to wick water away from highly saturated parts of the brush. Other materials can thus certainly be utilized. It may again be desirable that an antimicrobial additive or aspect be included in the base layer or wicking layer as well. The absorbent material base layer also need not cover the entire brush head area. Instead, the layer can cover only a portion of the head, such as underlying only the rod portion and/or the backing or carrier layer portion of the water absorbent material.

The brush head 16 of the hair brush 10 can include a bristle pad that is fully covered in microfiber. This can significantly increase the cost of the product and may also inhibit contact between the bristles and the hair as well as the rods and the hair. The hair brush 10 also has shown to result in inconsistent saturation per unit area of the materials. A high concentration of saturation after use in some areas of the brush has been shown during testing and commercial use, while leaving some areas almost completely dry.

In all of the foregoing examples, the brush bodies may be formed or molded of plastic such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or a similar material. Bristle materials may include nylon, plastic, natural, stiff animal hair, or other materials. In certain examples, the disclosed bristle pad, support, or substrate may be made of the same material as the bristles or of a different material. Such materials can include plastic material meeting the requisite requirements for a combination of strength and flexibility.

A microfiber fabric according to the present disclosure can include a base layer or substrate and fabric or flexible rods made of polyester 85% and nylon 15%. Other material and chemical combinations may be used if such materials have the desired characteristics described above.

An antimicrobial additive e.g. triclosan may be used with the microfiber fabric and/or the absorbent foam material described above to give the disclosed hair brushes and styling implements antimicrobial properties.

The specific features of any one of the embodiments described herein may be employed on any of the other embodiments where feasible. For example, any of the brush bodies may have a handle or no handle, texture or no texture. Brushes may have a water absorbing material of foam, fabric, or other suitable water absorbing materials. Suitable fabrics may include and are not limited to various fabric types and weaves such as plain weaves, terry cloth, cut or uncut pile weaves, or the like. Any of the hair brushes may include coated bristles, separate bristles, integrally molded bristles, and/or absorbent rods, etc., and remain within the teachings of the present invention.

Materials and combinations of materials used for the brushes described herein can vary. For example, decorative features may be used on a brush body such as decorative gripping surfaces with or without texture, combinations of materials such as wood and plastic, or overmolded plastics or other materials. Such materials may be made in complimentary or contrasting colors and/or textures, or combinations, and be used on any of the hair brushes described herein and remain with the teachings of the present invention.

Although certain brush head design criteria, brush head enhancements, and hair brush configurations and constructions have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair brush comprising: a body having a head; a plurality of bristles carried by and protruding relative to the head; and a water absorbent material carried by part of the body and dispersed among at least some of the plurality of bristles.
 2. A hair brush according to claim 1, wherein the water absorbent material is dispersed among some but not all of the plurality of bristles, leaving some bristles exposed.
 3. A hair brush according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of bristles includes two or more columns of exposed bristles along at least one side edge of the head exposed beyond the water absorbent material.
 4. A hair brush according to claim 3, wherein at least one column of the two or more columns of bristles is staggered or offset relative to at least one other column of the two or more columns.
 5. A hair brush according to claim 3, wherein the two or more columns includes three columns of the exposed bristles along each of two opposed side edges of the head.
 6. A hair brush according to claim 3, wherein the two or more columns of staggered bristles are exposed outwardly beyond the water absorbent material.
 7. A hair brush according to claim 6, wherein the two or more columns of staggered bristles include three columns along each of two opposed side edges of the head, each column of bristles staggered relative to an adjacent one of the three columns.
 8. A hair brush according to claim 1, further comprising an absorbent material layer carried by the head adjacent and underlying a base layer, backing layer, or carrier layer of the water absorbent material.
 9. A hair brush according to claim 8, wherein the absorbent material layer is a non-woven textile material.
 10. A hair brush according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of bristles includes two or more columns of exposed bristles along at least one side edge of the head, wherein the water absorbing material is dispersed among and between the plurality of bristles but not among the two or more columns of exposed bristles, and wherein the two or more columns of exposed bristles are arranged more densely per unit area on the head than a remainder of the plurality of bristles.
 11. A hair brush according to claim 10, further comprising two or more columns of the exposed bristles on each side edge of the head.
 12. A hair brush according to claim 1, wherein the water absorbent material is a microfiber material.
 13. A hair brush according to claim 1, wherein the water absorbent material includes a plurality of fabric rods protruding from the head between some of the plurality of bristles.
 14. A hair brush according to claim 13, further comprising an absorbent material base layer carried by the head adjacent and underlying a backing or carrier layer of the plurality of fabric rods.
 15. A hair brush according to claim 18, wherein the absorbent material base layer is viscose with a synthetic.
 16. A hair brush comprising: a body having a head; a plurality of bristles carried by and protruding relative to the head; a water absorbent material carried by part of the body and dispersed among at least some but not all of the plurality of bristles; and an absorbent material base layer carried by the head adjacent a backing or carrier layer of the water absorbent material.
 17. A hair brush according to claim 16, wherein the absorbent material layer is a non-woven textile material.
 18. A hair brush according to claim 17, wherein the non-woven textile material is viscose with a synthetic.
 19. A hair brush according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of bristles includes two or more columns of bristles along each of two opposed side edges of the head and wherein the water absorbing material is dispersed among and between the plurality of bristles between but not among the two or more columns of bristles on each of the two opposed side edges.
 20. A hair brush according to claim 19, wherein the two or more columns of bristles include three columns of bristles exposed beyond the water absorbent material on each of the side edges.
 21. A hair brush according to claim 20, wherein at least one column of the three columns of bristles is staggered or offset relative to at least another column of the three columns of bristles.
 22. A hair brush according to claim 16, wherein the body has a handle coupled to the head and wherein the water absorbent material is carried by the head.
 23. A hair brush according to claim 16, wherein the head defines a cavity and has one or more vents through the head and in communication with the cavity.
 24. A hair brush according to claims 16, wherein the plurality of bristles is connected to a bristle pad that is carried by the head.
 25. A hair brush according to claim 24, wherein the bristle pad has a plurality of perforations formed therethrough and wherein each of the plurality of bristles is interspersed among the perforations.
 26. A hair brush according to claims 16, wherein the water absorbent material is a microfiber fabric.
 27. A hair brush according to claim 26, wherein the microfiber fabric has a plurality of flexible fabric rods extending from the backing or carrier layer, which is a microfiber material, and in a direction generally parallel to the plurality of bristles.
 28. A hair brush according to claim 26, wherein the microfiber material has antibacterial properties.
 29. A hair brush according to claim 16, wherein the water absorbent material is dispersed among a subset of the plurality of bristles.
 30. A hair brush according to claim 29, wherein the subset of the plurality of bristles is between approximately 5% and 90% of the bristles.
 31. A hair brush according to claim 29, wherein the subset of the plurality of bristles is between approximately 5% and 75% of the bristles.
 32. A hair brush according to claim 29, wherein the subset of the plurality of bristles is between approximately 25% and 75% of the bristles.
 33. A hair brush according to claim 16, further comprising one or more vents among the plurality of bristles and extending through the head including through a back side of a housing and through the absorbent material base layer. 